Circuit-breaker



K. F. RIES.

yCIRCUIT BREAKER. APfjLlcATloN FILED MAY-12, 1919.

Patented Mar. 29, 1921.

UNITED STATES IPATENT OFFICE.

KURT F. RIEs, oF DAYTON, OHIO, AssIGNoR or oNE-HALF To W. T. OHMER, or

, DAYTON, '01110.

CIRCUIT-BREAKER.

Speccation of Letters Patent.

Patented Mar. 29, 1921.

'Application led May 12, 1919.J Serial No. 296,291.

T0 all whom z may co-noem:

Be it known that I, KURT F. Ries, a citizen of Germany, residing at Dayton. in the county of Montgomery and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Circuit-Breakers. of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawing.

This invention relates to circuit breakers of an improved type and has for its particular purpose to provide a circuit breaker of modified constructionof the type shown in my copendin application, Serial Number 296,290. filed iIay 12, 1919. The present invention as also that of the copending application is especially adaptable for use in connection with the ignition system of an internal combustion engine, but-'is also adaptable for use in connection with magnetos.

distributing systems and all similar purposes where circuit breakers are employed.

The present invention distinguishes from the construction shown in the copending application with respect to certain important details of construction. the general arrangement and functioning of parts in the two constructions being relatively the same.

As in the other construction, it is an object of the present invention to provide a circuit breaker cheap to manufacture and in which the highest efficiency will bev realized in its use, the construction and arrangement of the parts being such as to produce a device in which breakage is practically eliminated and in which the mechanism is not readily rendered out of adjustment. g

A common fault of circuit breakers of present commercial types consists in the use of long pla-te or leaf springs which are constantly vibrated in the use of the devices with the result that the springs crystallize and break in a comparatively short time, and have the further fault of developing hammering of the contact elements. These weaknes'ses of construction render the devices unsatlsfactory to the extent of their failure to function properly and to withstand usage indefinitely.

In the design of my improved circuit breakers especial attention has been given to the correction of the faulty construction of devices of the earlier types, plate springs having been entirely eliminated and compre'sslon springs having but slight movement substitute thus eliminating breakage. and

insuring the proper functioning and long life of the devices.

A still further fault in circuit breakers of the present well known commercial types consists in the improper relation of the contact points of the instruments to'each other. One of the contacts is usually fixed or relatively stationary and the other is carried by the breaker arm, as in the present construction. but the angle of the breaker arm to the stationary contact point is such, in the defective constructions referred to, that a scissor action is produced, i. e.-the edges of the contact points farthest removed from the pivotal center of the breaker arm move faster. when contact is broken, than the inner edges to ^an extent that creates arcing between the points at the inner edges thereof.

This weakness is corrected in the present construction by arranging the contacts 1n a plane at riglit angles to the axes of the contact stems and disposing the breaker arm at an angle which results in substantially equal separation `of the contacts at the inner and outer edges thereof during the slight movement required to break the circuit. By this arrangement arcing is prevented and the eiiciency of the instrument is correspondingly increased.

In the accompanying drawings:

Figure-1 is a side elevation of the complete I body portion 1 in the form of a disk having an integral hub 2, the design of the part being such as may readily be produced in iinished dimensions by a single screw machine operation. Secured to the disk 1 in any suitable manner, as here shown by the threaded end of a post 4 which serves to support a brush 4a by means of which the circuit is completed in the usual manner, is a supporting base 3 for one of the contact elements, a plate of insulating materlal, of sultable thickness. being interposed between the parts 1 and 3. The contact member consists of the threaded post 6 secured in the base 3 and having secured to one end thereof an adjustraised and lowered in the base, and having at its opposite end a. lock nut 8, whereby the post maybe secured in any adjusted position. The inner end of the base 3 is provided with an aperture 9 in axial alinement with an aperture 10 extending through the disk 1 and hub 2 by means of which the circuit breaker is secured to the armature shaft of a motor.

The breaker arms 11 and 12, here shown as an integral part, are secured to the disk 1 adjacent the edge thereof by a pivot post 13. The arm 11 has secured to the end thereof the opposite contact vmember 14, here shown as a threaded stud provided with an adjusting nut 15. and the arm 12 is provided at its end with an insert of non-conducting material 16 which coperates with a field of any suitable construction, whereby the breaker arm may be actuated one or more times to break the circuit by separating the contacts 6 and 14 as may be required with each turn of the motor.

The arm 12 is further provided With an enlarged portion 18 which serves as a suitable housing for a compression spring 19 which acts normally to close the contact points 6 and 14; the housing having an aperture 2O extending therethrough and closed at its outer end by a threaded plug 21 which forms the seat for the inserted end of the spring. The opposite end of the spring butts against a post 22 secured in the disk 1, the post being provided in the usual manner With al pin 23 which engages the en-d of the spring and prevents lateral displacement thereof.. The stud serves further as a limit stop for the breaker arm by contacting with the shoulder 24 thereof when the arm is actuated to break the circuit.

It will be observed that the device is insulated throughout in the usual manner by the use of suitable non-conducting material, and that the construction is simple and substantial. The contact points may consist of any suitable material. As here shown, in order to obtain the highest eiiiciency of the -breaker arm, respectively Y Letters Patent, is

1. In a circuit breaker, a supporting member, a contact element supported relative to lsaid member, a breaker lever having secured thereto a contact element cooperating with the other contact element to form a vcircuit and having an arm whereby the breaker lever is operable intermittently in one direction to break the circuit, and a compression spring supported in a housing carried by the breaker arm and coperating with a iXed part on the supporting member to actuate the breaker arm in the opposite direction.

2. In a circuit breaker, a supporting member, a contact element supported relative to said member, a breaker lever having secured thereto a contact element cooperating with the other contact element to form a circuit and having an arm whereby the breaker lever is operable intermittently in one direction to break the circuit, and 4a resilient element operable in a housing made integral of the breaker arm and co'perating with a post secured in the supporting member to actuate and limit the movement of the in the opposite direction.

In testimony whereof, I affix my signature.

KURT F. RIES. 

